Rep. John Carney's decision last month to run for governor has opened up his at-large seat to Delaware Democrats hoping to make it to Washington.

The day after the three-term member made his announcement, state Sen. Bryan Townsend, a corporate lawyer in Wilmington, got into the race . A week later, state Rep. Bryon Short, a small business owner and former aide to Sen. Thomas R. Carper, followed suit .

Carney won't run for a fourth term in the House. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Three-term Delaware Rep. John Carney has filed paperwork to run for governor.

In a statement Wednesday, Carney said he had planned to back the state's late attorney general, Beau Biden, for governor and stay in the House. But after Biden passed away in May from brain cancer, Carney reconsidered.